I Am The Sea || Choi San

plan

As Captain Hongjoon had promised, the Inception leaves the Capo Rodas harbor at exactly three o'clock and not a minute later. The captain is standing at the wheel while his men rush to their usual positions, and for a few minutes, Theo merely watches as the ship's crew works like a well oiled machine.
Some men set the sails, some tug at the rigging, some more pulling up the anchor. And then the coast is behind them and the open sea in front of them, seagulls singing their goodbye song as they strive for the sky.

Seonghwa comes up next to Theo as she breathes in the fresh ocean breeze, her entire body relaxing with the swaying of the ship. He holds a small brown paper bag in his hands and nudges Theo with his elbow, so that she might take a look at it.

"I got this for you," Seonghwa says with a warm smile, "When we're out at sea we live off of stew and soups and bread. We don't get too much of this, so..."

Theo takes the paper bag into her own hands and opens it with a curious smile on her face, turning it over. A round ball of a light dough rolls into her hand, coated in powdered sugar. A bright red, sticky liquid is dripping out of the bottom.

"A strawberry pastry! Thank you, I haven't had one of these in ages!"

Seonghwa's smile turns into a grin and he squeezes his eyes closed. "Strawberries are my favorites. I hope you like it."

Theo gently pulls the pastry apart with both her hands, careful not to spill too much of the strawberry jelly. She offers one half to Seonghwa. "We should share it then."

As the two finally turn away from the open ocean and walk across the main deck towards the Captain's cabin, Yunho and Mingi fall into step beside Theo.
"Are you going to join us for a round of Blood-Death-Crown tonight?" Yunho asks and rolls up the sleeves of his shirt. "The loser gets scrubbing duty all week."
Theo chuckles and shakes her head, "What on earth makes you think I would possibly say yes to that? You both know I always lose against you, I'd be digging my own grave."

Yunho and Mingi laugh, though they don't get to argue with Theo, because they arrive at the Captain's cabin, and Seonghwa knocks on the door.
Theo's heart starts beating just a bit faster. Ever since Theo arrived on the Inception, she usually kept to the main deck and the kitchen, her own cabin and the storage bay. Not once has it occurred to her that she'll ever set foot into Captain Hongjoong's cabin. She hasn't even been below deck where his men and the seasonal sailors reside to sleep.

"Come in," the Captain calls from inside and Seonghwa pushes through the frame.
The Captain's cabin is bigger than Theo's, though it feels a lot more crowded. A huge desk takes up most of the space, maps and globes and compasses scattered all over it. A hammock hangs above a bed by the wall, a blanket hanging from it. Shelves are filled with more paper, and what seem to be countless trinkets he either found or bought or was gifted over the years. Snow globes. Paper weights. Stone statues. Wooden chests in different sizes. Candles. Books. Glasses. A bundle of keys.
Next to the door, different coats and hats in various colors hang from metal hooks, and Theo's eyes catch on a bright red coat with wide lapels and heavily stitched sleeves.

The Captain sits on a chair behind his desk, his chin leaning on his folded hands. On his bed, San and Wooyoung sit next to each other, their sides pressed against each other. Wooyoung is holding San's hand in his, gently driving his thumb over San's knuckles. It's a heartwarming sight and Theo can't help but smile as she watches Woo nuzzle his nose into San's neck. She knew the two of them are close, but it's rare that San lets anyone close enough to be cuddling him like this.
Jongho stands behind the Captain with his hands behind his back.

"Right, we're all here," Hongjoong says and leans back in his chair, "Please, make yourself at home."
He motions for Theo to take a seat on the bed as well, and the girl scoots to sit next to Wooyoung.
Since she has found out about San's nightly violin plays, the two of them have not talked to each other. And though Theo is desperate to talk to him about anything in the world, she has not found the courage in herself to actually start a conversation.
San, in turn, has not made an effort to find her alone either, despite having accompanied her and Jongho to town.